The gigantic extent, and the consummate skill, of the British combination, was apparent to the General at a glance. The noble soul of the generous soldier at once impelled him to the great sacrifice, which, at such an hour, is all that is left for a defeated commander. The onset of the victorious foe must be checked, while his retreating columus toiled through the salt marshes, and across the deep tide-water creek, in their rear. To the heroic mind of Stirling there was no necessity for reflection upon the decision. In such minds instinct is a safer guide than is the maturest judgment in others. The decision is a species of inspiration. Fortunately for his purpose, the noblest instruments for his design were at hand. The Maryland regiment, now commanded by Major Guest, some portions of which had, from the peculiar formation of Stirling's line, fought on the right wing, although part of the left, was still nearly intact, and was burning with patriotism, and the desire of distinction. This body of young men, sons of the best families of Catholic Maryland, had been emulous of the praise of being the best drilled and disciplined of the Revolutionary forces; and their high spirit, their courage, their self-devotion, as well as the discipline of which they were proud, were now to be proved in the fierce furnace of battle. Flinging himself at the head of these brave lads, who on that day for the first time saw the flash of an enemy's guns, Stirling determined to stem the advance of the foe.1 The little band, now hardly numbering four hundred men, prepared for an assault upon five times their number, 'Lord Stirling says, in his letter of August 29, to Washington: "In order to render the escape of the main body across the creek more practicable, I of the best troops of the invading army, who were inflamed with all the arrogance of successful combat. Forming, hurriedly, on ground in the vicinity of Fifth avenue and Tenth street, the light column advanced along the Gowanus road into the jaws of battle, with unwavering front. Artillery ploughed their fast-thinning ranks, with the awful bolts of war; infantry poured its volleys of musket-balls, in almost solid sheets of lead upon them; and, from the adjacent hills, the deadly Hessian yagers sent swift messengers of death into many a manly form. Still, above the roar of cannon, musketry, and rifles, was heard the shout of their brave leaders, "Close up! Close up!" and again the staggering yet unflinching files, grown fearfully thin, drew together, and turned their stern young faces to their country's foe. At the head of this devoted band marched their General, to whom even victory had now become less important than an honorable death which might purchase the safe retreat of his army. Amid all the terrible carnage of the hour there was no hurry, no confusion, only a grim despair, which their courage and self-devotion dignified into martyrdom. The advanced bodies of the enemy were driven back upon the Cortelyou house-now become a formidable redoubt from the windows of which the leaden hail thinned the patriot ranks as they approached. Lord Cornwallis hurriedly brought two guns into position, near one corner found it absolutely necessary to attack a body of troops commanded by Lord Cornwallis, posted at the house near the Upper Mills, which I instantly did, with about half of Smallwood's regiment, first ordering all the other troops to make the best of their way across the creek." of the house, and added their canister and grape to the tempest of death. At last the little column halted, powerless to advance, in the face of this murderous fire, yet disdaining to retreat with the disgrace of a flight. Again and again these selfdevoted heroes closed their ranks over the bodies of their dead comrades, and still turned their faces to the foe. But the limit of human endurance had for the time been reached, and the shattered column was driven back. task was not, however, yet fully performed. Their As Stirling looked across the salt meadows, away to the scene of his late struggle at Bluckie's Barracks, and saw the confused masses of his countrymen crowding the narrow causeway over Freeke's mill-pond, or struggling through the muddy tide-stream, he felt how precious to their country's liberty were the lives of his retreating soldiers; and again he nerved himself for a combat which he knew could only prove a sacrifice. Once more he called upon the survivors of the previous dreadful assault, and again the noble young men gathered around their General. How sadly he must have looked upon them-scarcely more than boys-so young, so brave, and to meet again the pitiless iron hail! The impetus and spirit of this charge carried the battalion over every obstacle, quite to the house. The gunners were driven from their battery, and Cornwallis seemed about to abandon the position; but the galling fire from the interior of the house, and from the adjacent high ground, with the overwhelming numbers of the enemy who were now approaching, again compelled a retreat. |